On Wednesday (Feb. 17th), STITA and Farwest taxi companies sent letters to Washington State Auditor Brian Sonntag and Attorney General Rob McKenna, urging an investigation into the Port of Seattle.

This follows a recent, fast-paced rash of two lawsuits filed against the Port for its alleged mishandling of switching cab vendors over from STITA to Yellow Cab (read our previous coverage here).

The letter to the State Auditor asks him to investigate the Port’s handing of the entire on-demand taxicab RFP (Request For Proposal) process, which resulted in the two recent lawsuits.

The letter to Attorney General McKenna requests not only for an investigation of the Port, but also of lobbyist Chris Van Dyk, who is accused of collusion in the RFP process (EDITOR’S NOTE: Mr. Van Dyk appears to have made numerous Comments on this website – see the Comment section in our right sidebar).

“It’s time for the auditor and the attorney general to step in,” said STITA spokesperson Jesse Buttar in a statement. “We hope they will take a careful look at the allegations against the Port.”

We got in touch with Perry Cooper, Media Officer for the Port, who said:

“Understand we have just received this and will review our records again…but we are still emphasizing that we are confident the RFP and bidding process was fair, open and transparent.

We have reviewed our approach continually throughout a thoughtful and thorough RFP and bidding process.

We are aware of no facts that would support allegations of collusion.

At no time during the process did anyone file an official complaint.

We were not aware of these allegations until the suit was filed.”

Both letters are enclosed below, and are available also for download here (both as PDF files):

• Letter to State Auditor Sonntag (PDF File)
• Letter to Attorney General McKenna (PDF File)

Popularity: 1% [?]

We’re proud to announce that a new sister website has been born, so please give her a click and say hello to White Center Blog!

White Center Blog will serve as a diverse resource of local news, events, listings, videos, photos and more for the neighboring community of White Center.

To learn more, please check out http://www.whitecenterblog.com and be sure to say hello to your new neighbors!

Popularity: 35% [?]

Last Thursday, Burien Towing’s Mark Storer, 51, and his son Brian, 24, were killed in a floatplane crash near Shelton, WA.

A memorial service for both has been scheduled for this Thursday, July 31st at 11am at the Church by the Side of the Road, which is located at 3455 S 148th Street in Tukwila (map below).

According to the Burien Towing website:

• Mark and Brian took the afternoon off work to spend some time together in Mark’s amphibious airplane.
• The two were last seen enjoying the day on Lake Nahwatzel, before the plane’s engine failed shortly after taking off. Both died in the crash.
• Mark was a dedicated father and husband. He loved his family and will be missed by many.
• Brian was married and was a father of 2 young boys, ages 2 and 1. He also loved his family very much and will be missed.
• Both Mark and Brian dedicated much of their lives to the family business. Airport Towing mourns their passing and supports the families they have left behind.
• Any gifts or cards for the families are currently being collected at the main office:

Burien Towing
817 SW 149th Street
Burien, WA 98166

• All who knew Mark and Brian are invited to attend the service.
• Prior to the ceremony, a procession will lead the family to the Church from the Airport Towing office at 817 SW 149th Street in Burien. The lead car will leave the office at 10am.
• If you would like to join the procession, please arrive prior to 9:45am at the Airport Towing office for staging.
• All law enforcement vehicles, fire apparatus, tow trucks, and motorcycles are welcome in the procession.
• For more information on the procession, fill out the Contact form and Jared will respond to your inquiry.
• Following the service will be a reception at the Church. All are welcome to attend.
• A fund is currently being set up to benefit Brian’s family. Brian leaves behind a wife of 3 years and two sons, ages 2 and 1. Information on the Storer Family Memorial Fund will be posted when available.
• More information is available at jaredstorer.blogspot.com

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Popularity: 46% [?]

SEATAC – In another sign that the economy is tanking, American Airlines announced that it will lay off 22 workers at SeaTac Airport beginning Sept. 5th as part of a “nationwide staff reduction.” The announcement was made Tuesday in a warning notice filed with the state Employment Security Department. Nationwide, American plans to eliminate 6,500 employees, or about 8 percent of its work force.

Some employees may leave the company voluntarily with a severance package designed to bridge the gap between full-time employment and retirement, the company said.

American and most other major airlines plan to cut back flying beginning this fall to allow fuel-guzzling older aircraft to be grounded and to cull unprofitable flights from their schedules.

American hasn’t yet announced specific flight reductions at SeaTac, but it’s expected that the airline will consolidate some of the multiple flights it schedules between here and its hubs in Chicago and Dallas.

SOURCE:

• The News Tribune

Popularity: 32% [?]

SEATAC – Nw u cn uz txt msgs 2 chk flts @ c-tc!

In other words…now you can use text messages to check flights at Sea-Tac!

The new service, implemented by the Port of Seattle, allows travelers the convenience of checking their flight information on their cell phones.

It uses a simple text message request that returns updated flight information back to the user’s phone via text message and is compatible with most cell phone brands.

Users get real-time flight information including current departure or arrival times, gate numbers, and additional flight status updates.

Here’s how it works:

• Text “FlySEA” (359732)
• Text the name of your airline and flight number. For example: Alaska 1234
• Within seconds, you’ll receive the latest real-time information, including the flight number, departure or arrival time, gate number and flight status
• Cell phone updates are a one-time, passenger activated service
• In order to receive another update you must text the address again
• Your cell phone carrier’s standard rates apply

For those interested in receiving e-mail notifications for real-time flight status, customers must sign up for the free service on the Port of Seattle’s Web site.

Popularity: 27% [?]

SEATAC – Sea-Tac International Airport registered number 17 in overall airport satisfaction, according to a study conducted by J.D. Power and Associates.

The list was comprised of the 19 largest (30 million or more passengers per year) airports in the country.

Only San Francisco International Airport and Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport ranked worse; Philadelphia International ranked No. 1.

Sea-Tac scored a 656 compared with Philadelphia International’s top score of 690 and Minneapolis/St. Paul’s bottom score of 647. The average of all 19 airports was 674, according to J.D. Power’s study.

Sea-Tac scored at the bottom of every category used in the study, including:

• Overall airport satisfaction
• Airport accessibility
• Check-in/baggage check
• Security check
• Terminal facilities
• Baggage claim
• Food and retail services

SOURCE:

• Puget Sound Business Journal

Popularity: 100% [?]

Do you get anxious in social situations?

Are you emotionally drained by big crowds?

Then you may be shy, like the young man actor Dick York (the original Darrin Stevens in “Bewitched“) portrayed in this classic 1950s-era film:

According to speaker and shyness expert Frank Selden, the good news is that shy people have some fantastic qualities they can access to transform to more social people.

Selden will share his secrets for shedding shyness during his “From Super Shy to Genuinely Gregarious” presentation at the special Thursday evening, May 29th, Des Moines Soundwaves Toastmasters 7pm meeting.

This free presentation is open to the public at the Wesley Homes Administration Building-Board Room, 21631 11th Avenue South, which is located across from City Hall in Des Moines, WA.

Selden knows from experience what it’s like to be shy. “Before Toastmasters I was scared to talk to people. I wanted to get to know people and wanted people to know me, but couldn’t do it. Now you can’t get me to be quiet!” he stated.

His “From Super Shy to Genuinely Gregarious,” presentation offers four steps for feeling more comfortable and adventurous in social situations.

An estate and tax-planning attorney based in Bellevue, WA, Selden has achieved the status of Advanced Toastmaster Gold through his membership in Toastmasters International. Selden is also the author of “Finding Faith in the Fury,” a non-fiction account of his experience as a Jag officer with the Washington National Guard while stationed in Iraq.

Toastmasters International, headquartered in Mission Viejo, CA, is a non-profit organization comprised of a worldwide network of clubs dedicated to fostering self-confidence and personal growth through public speaking and leadership opportunities.

Contact Lorylee Lejon at 253-839-9982 for more information.

WHAT: “From Super Shy to Genuinely Gregarious” presentation by Frank Selden

WHEN: Thursday, May 29th at 7pm

WHERE: Des Moines Toastmasters, at Wesley Homes Administration Building-Board Room, 21631 11th Avenue South

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Popularity: 30% [?]

Come July 25th, shoppers and diners will be able to admire Mt. Rainier through a 90-foot glass facade while eating inside the $240 million remodeled Westfield Southcenter mall.

The addition brings the mall to 1.7 million square feet, making Tukwila the home of the largest indoor shopping center in Washington and Oregon, according to the Westfield Group, the company that bought the property in 2002.

The 400,000-square-foot upgrade is the most dramatic change to Southcenter since it opened in July 1968.

Among the mall’s new features will be an AMC Theatre with IMAX capabilities, 75 additional retail stores and five restaurants with outdoor seating:

• Joeys
• Duke’s Chowder House
• Blue C Sushi
• Racha Thai & Asian Bistro
• BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse

New retailers include:

• H&M
• Coach
• Banana Republic
• Sephora
• White House | Black Market

“Retail is what it’s all about,” said Larry Green, Westfield’s senior vice president of West Coast development, adding that Southcenter is “taking the level of fashion up another level.”

Other additions include parking garages, rooftop parking and family lounge play areas for kids and parents.

On Thursday, Westfield passed out hard hats and safety goggles to a group of reporters who toured the construction site, including the SeaTac Blog’s own Mark Neuman, who said it was “very impressive.”

Construction crew members operated two cranes within the atrium. The air inside was dusty, the floor was mostly unfinished and unadorned signs hung where stores will be: Kay Jewelers, Hot Topic, Limited Too.

The mall’s new layout will resemble a racetrack, with three connecting walkways into the existing section. The addition sits in front of the older section, giving the building an entire new front.

Andrew Ciarrocchi, Westfield senior general manager, noted that more than 1,000 pilings driven 180 feet into the ground support the new shopping structure. The old section will be spruced up with better lighting, new storefronts and fresh paint.

The Westfield executives’ statements Thursday didn’t match what retailers seem to be feeling nationwide.

In a recent survey by American Express, for example, business owners in the retail industry had the most negative outlook on the economy, compared with other industries. Retail business owners cited a downturn in the housing market, rising energy and gas costs, and the U.S. tax system as the main causes for their woes, according to American Express OPEN’s Small Business Monitor, a semiannual survey of business owners. The nationwide survey was conducted in March.

Green said that Westfield is concerned about what is going on nationally, but that the Seattle region has a healthy level of demand for new retail.

But “we’d like to see gas prices drop,” he said.

Westfield Southcenter is one of several regional retail centers that are expanding. Other developers have said the Puget Sound retail market is not yet saturated.

Retailers were lining up to be a part of Southcenter, but the center didn’t have the space to accommodate them previously, Ciarrocchi said. The center wouldn’t have expanded if it wasn’t sure that it could lease the space, he added, when asked whether the economy has affected leasing.

Westfield’s new space is 100 percent leased, but all the new tenants have not yet been announced.

SOURCE:

• The Seattle P-I

Popularity: 32% [?]

SEATAC – A SeaTac company is voluntarily recalling its coconut-flavor frozen desert after state inspectors found one contaminated with a bacterium that can be especially dangerous to pregnant women.

No illnesses have been reported from the nondairy dessert, sold by Ca Rem #1. The dessert, similar to a Popsicle, is sold at 40 food markets and restaurants in Western Washington and western Oregon.

“We know that these desserts can stay in freezers for months, so families should take a second look at what they’ve been saving for a special treat,” said Claudia Coles, manager of the state Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety Program.

Coles is encouraging people to throw away Ca Rem #1 coconut desserts they bought.

A Department of Agriculture inspector randomly selected the contaminated dessert Jan. 14 at Asian Planet Food Market in Kent as part of routine food testing, spokesman Jason Kelly said.

Test results returned eight days later showed it was contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, a harmful bacterium.

The Department of Agriculture determined the product’s distribution area and initiated the recall Friday.

The dessert was made in Hillman City, where the retail and wholesale ice cream business was located until being licensed in SeaTac earlier this month, according to the Department of Agriculture.

Ca Rem #1 is owned by Jackie Bell, a Vietnam native who makes nondairy frozen desserts with coconut milk and fruit. She also owned Le Bambou, a now-defunct Vietnamese cafe in Hillman City.

“We don’t know what caused that,” she said of the contaminated product.

Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled. Eating food with the bacterium may cause listeriosis, a food-borne illness that can cause high fever and severe headache, among other symptoms. The elderly and people with weakened immune systems are also particularly at risk.

Consumers with questions are encouraged to call Ca Rem #1 at 206-720-1887.

SOURCE:

• Seattle P-I

Popularity: 49% [?]